Berat, Albania: The City of a Thousand Windows
Start your amazing trip to Berat with a rental car from Gazheli Rent, ensuring free and convenient movement to discover all the wonders this great city in Albania has to offer. If there’s one place you have to visit in Albania, make it beautiful Berat—also known as ‘the city of a thousand windows’. Discover this wonderful town home to two ancient neighborhoods, filled with traditional Ottoman houses and divided by the River Osum. Use your days to wander the cobblestone streets, explore the bustling markets, and see a beautiful mountain sunset from the ruins of the Byzantine Castle. Enjoy all the top things to do in Berat, Albania!
Things to do in Berat, Albania
Berat is one of the most beautiful places in Albania. Here you’ll discover a stunning bridge crossing the River Osum that unites two hillside neighborhoods. As you wander the cobbled streets, you’ll also find mosques, churches, and ruins home to friendly neighborhood cats.
There’s plenty of history to be discovered in Berat, which is why the historic center is a designated UNESCO. Additionally, the town has newer parts—namely, the main pedestrian boulevard. Here, you can discover many cafes, restaurants, and shops where families gather at the end of the day.
Tip: Berat is just a stone’s throw from beautiful nature and wineries, making it a great jumping-off point for day trips.
1. Berat Castle
Berat Castle is one of the top things to do in Berat. This 13th-century structure is also the biggest castle in Albania, its ancient walls telling the story of Berat. Most interesting is that locals still live within the citadel walls, meaning you’ll find houses, shops, and stalls within the castle quarter. It’s essentially its own village!
To get there, you have two roads you can follow up the hill. Halfway up this route, you can also find a shortcut where you zig-zag over a gravel path. Once you reach the top, it’s very picturesque, with beautiful views all over the valley. Plus, you can also climb on the walls for fantastic sunset views.
Entrance Fee and Opening Times for Berat Castle
The entrance fee for Berat Castle is 300 LEK (2.70 USD) between 9 AM – 6 PM. However, it’s open 24 hours a day, so you can get free entrance if you visit outside the primary hours.
We recommend allowing yourself a few hours for exploring and extra time if you want to visit the museum. You can also join an organized tour of Berat Castle for more information.
2. Visit Berat’s Red Mosque (Top Thing to do in Berat)
On top of the hill, within the citadel, sits the ruins of one of the oldest mosques in the country! An icon of the religion within Albania, the Red Mosque was also the first in Berat. Sadly, there is now only the minaret left and the remains of some of the walls, although this doesn’t take away from its beauty and importance.
Because of its demise, it is not an active place of worship. However, you can still find several active mosques in the old town of Berat (Mangalem)
Did you know? Over half the population of Albania is Muslim, making it the most followed religion in the country.
3. Explore the Old Town of Mangalem
Mangalem is the beating heart of the town and one of the top things to do in Berat. The picture-perfect old city of Berat is home to Ottoman houses sprawled up the hillside and many window panes that have earnt Berat the name ‘the city of a thousand windows’.
Mangalem used to be the Muslim quarter historically, while across the banks of the river lay Gorica, the Christian neighborhood. These days, there is no difference between the two, and both make up the old town of Berat.
Spend some time in Mangalem, strolling around the cobblestone streets and getting a feel for the medieval atmosphere. Look out for all the beautiful buildings in the area, from Orthodox churches to the distinct Ottoman houses that make the town so unique.
4. Gorica Bridge
Gorica Bridge is one of the main things to do in Berat and is well-known because of the many photos that have been taken of it. The old stone bridge, with its 7 arches, links the neighborhoods of Mangalem and Gorica across the river. Walk across the bridge to see a view of both neighborhoods with the towering mountains and castle in the background; simply beautiful!
5. Discover the Neighborhood of Gorica
Gorica is the lesser visited of the two old town neighborhoods—but it’s just as beautiful! Cross the bridge and discover a maze of cobbled alleys that worm up the steep hill to the top of Gorica Hill. At the top, you’ll get the most incredible views across to Mangalem and the castle (the perfect place to visit at sunset).
Gorica is one of the most authentic neighborhoods in town. It’s the ideal place to see a glimpse of traditional Berat life as you watch locals going about their days, children playing, and people gathering to enjoy a well-earned bite to eat.
6. Church of the Holy Trinity
Within the Citadel walls, discover the beautiful Church of the Holy Trinity, an incredible Byzantine church on the hilltop of Berat. Every ancient stone and tile that makes up this building shows just how extensive the history is. In fact, the church dates all the way back to the 13th century!
7. Join a Tour of Osum Canyon (Top Thing to do in Berat)
Got more time on your visit to Berat? If you do, don’t miss out on visiting the great Osum Canyon! This colossal gorge is Albania’s largest canyon, home to some beautiful nature and some of the most spectacular views. Take a tour, where you’ll experience the views from above the gorge, as well as climb down into the sheer canyon to swim in the refreshing river. This area also becomes popular in the summer for rafting, an exciting activity to do on your trip to Berat.
Osum Canyon is a 1.5 hour drive from Berat. However, although you can reach it by car, its remoteness means that sometimes the roads aren’t always in the best condition. For this reason, we recommend booking an organized tour, including your activities and return transportation. Make sure you arrive and explore Osum Canyon with ease and comfort by using Gazheli Rent’s car rental service for your trip to Berat.
